Thimble tape presser and cutter



Sept. 22, 1942. M. GRUB ER 2,296,663 I THIMBLE TAPE PRESSER AND CUTTER Filed June 14, 1940 THIMBLE HOLDER FL T FOEM 15E VELED EDGE 6 CUTTIN G I EDGE Zhwentor 7 Mafia Gruber;

R KM

Patented Sept. 22, 1942 THIMBLE TAPE PRESSER AND CUTTER Martin Gruber, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to Radio Corporation of America, a corporation of Delaware Application June 14, 1940, Serial No. 340,543

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a new and useful thimble tape presser and cutter.

An object of this invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive device having combined means for working and cutting adhesive paper tape.

A feature of this invention is the combination of a pair of presser rollers, a tape cutting edge and a securing member therefor.

In present day telegraph practice, the intelligence usually appears on a continuous strip of narrow paper commonly referred to as papertape. This tape has an adhesive substance (glue) on the bottom side which is moistened by the operator and pasted to the message blank to insure its sticking properly. The tape press-device previously in use consisted simply of a flat surface with a sharp edge by which to cut the tape and a member which allowed attachment to the operators finger. This device in addition to producing smudges from the freshly inked tape had the disadvantage of allowing air-pockets to remain between the tape and message blank which resulted in unsatisfactory adhesion between surfaces. My device eliminates these ob jections and consists of a platform portion on which is mounted a thimble for attaching the device to the operators left finger, on the underside of the platform are a pair of rollers for pressing the tape, and an extension of the platform is beveled to produce a cutting edge. The platform member serves as a shield to enclose the rollers, thus keeping moisture away from the operators fingers and thereby preventing the production of smudges from the freshly inked tape.

The combined feature of the rollers and the cutter gives a very smooth pressing action and the tape may be instantly cut at the will of the operator.

This invention will best be understood by referring to the accompanying drawing, which shows the device in perspective.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, a platform or housing member I has its sides bent over at 2 to provide securing means for a pair of relatively small diameter rollers 3 and 4; which are arranged to roll freely upon shafts 5 and 6. The forward end of platform I is bent at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees to provide a cutting edge 1 for cutting off the paper tape 8. The top portion of platform I has a U-shaped supporting member 9 to which is fastened an open thimble-shaped member ID located at an angle H with respect to the roller axes.

The 5 angle II of member 9 is such that the operators finger conveniently rests Within thimble holder In to efliciently cut the tape 8 at any desired location. The open thimble member ID may be adjusted by having its sides bent inward or outward to fit the operators finger.

In the operation of this device, the telegraph recording tape is severed at suitable intervals to secure the desired message by the device which is worn on the tip of the operators left finger, the rollers being underneath and the cutting edge positioned to the best advantage for cutting off the tape after it has been pasted to the message blank. The gummed tape is moistened in the usual way and one end made to adhere to the blank after which the device of this invention is stroked along the tape causing the same to adhere to the message blank. When the end of the blank or the end of the message is reached, the device is held firmly in position with the cutting edge across the tape and the tape is lifted with the fingers of the right hand and pulledagainst said edge to sever the same at the desired point.

The rollers on the device present an everchanging surface to the freshly inked type, thus preventing smudging as would result from a plain surface device of the prior art being dragged across the fresh ink. Furthermore, the rolling action over the tape acts to press out all possible air bubbles and insures a perfect adhesion between the glue surface of the paper tape and the message blank. The beveled portion with cutting edge is so positioned that the operator may cut the tape to any desired length without removing the device from contact with the paper tape.

Although only one form of this invention is shown, it is to be distinctly understood that it should not be limited precisely thereto.

What is claimed is:

A device for cutting and pressing tape comprising a housing member having two side walls bent at right angles at the top surface and another wall bent at an angle of approximately forty-five degrees with respect to said top surface, a pair of shafts secured to said first mentioned side walls, a pair of rollers mounted for rotation on said shafts, a sharp paper cutting edge located on said last mentioned wall, and a thimble-like member secured to the top side of said housing member at an angle with respect thereto to provide the proper operative position of said device.

MARTIN GRUBER. 

